In the never-ending legal drama over gun control in Illinois, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has decided to keep the state’s gun ban in place—for now. It’s not really a shock to gun rights supporters, but it’s definitely a bit of a disappointment. Here’s the breakdown: last month, Southern District of Illinois Judge Stephen McGlynn issued a permanent injunction against the gun ban, but he included a 30-day hold before it took effect. The state then successfully appealed, and now the appeals court has put a stay on the injunction, meaning the ban remains in place while the legal battle continues.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who’s been a strong supporter of the gun ban, celebrated the court’s decision, arguing it would help prevent “weapons of war” from ending up in schools and on the streets. Of course, the argument hinges on the idea that banning certain semi-automatic rifles will solve the larger issue of gun violence in Illinois, especially in cities like Chicago. But critics argue that the root causes of violence—illegal firearms, gangs, poverty—are being ignored, and the focus on gun bans misses the bigger picture.
Ed Sullivan of the Illinois State Rifle Association wasn’t surprised by the appeals court’s ruling but didn’t hold back his frustration. He pointed out that many gun control advocates don’t understand firearms, and their solutions don’t address the true causes of violence. Instead, he argues, the law unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners, offering a simple but ultimately ineffective solution to a much more complicated problem.
Sullivan doesn’t think the appeals court is going to change the district court’s decision, and he’s guessing the whole thing might end up at the U.S. Supreme Court. He thinks it could take years to be resolved.
There are also two other challenges to local gun bans in the Seventh Circuit, and the Supreme Court might also take a look at Maryland’s gun ban.
Looks like the fight over gun control isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
